Toomey's Five RBI Power Salem State to 12-2 Win

Recap, photo courtesy of Salem State

SALEM, MASS. – Salem State opened up a close game with a seven-run fourth inning as the Vikings coasted to a 12-2 victory over Plymouth State on Wednesday afternoon at The Central Campus Baseball Field. Alex Toomey (Beverly, Mass.) had three hits, including a triple and five RBI to lead Salem State (13-9).

The Panthers (9-10) scored a run in the first as Geoff Kayo (Londonderry, N.H.) knocked in Jimmy Zimolka (Londonderry, N.H.), who led off the game with a walk. Vikings' starting pitcher Ryan Kelleher (Hanover, Mass.), despite early control problems, settled in and struck out all three Plymouth State batters in the third. Kelleher walked four and threw four wild pitches, but the Panthers could not take advantage as they did not score in the fourth despite having runners on second and third with no outs. Catcher Zac Duval (Middleton, Mass.) recorded a key out as he picked off Nate Frederick (Worcester, Mass.) who had drifted too far off third.  

Leading 2-0 thanks to a two-run triple by Toomey in the third, the Vikings took advantage of a key error by the Panthers to plate seven runs in the fourth. Jose Cedano (Lawrence, Mass.) scored the first run with an RBI single, plating Duval, who had led off the inning with a double to right. The Vikings then strung together four straight hits, scoring five runs in building a 9-0 lead. Mac Daniel Singleton (Everett, Mass.) and Toomey hit back-to-back singles, which was followed by a triple to deep center by Kyle O'Connor (Lynn, Mass.). Duval capped the scoring with a single to center.
Panthers' starter Marc Phinny (Gloucester, Mass.) allowed nine runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 3.2 innings of work.  Joshua Guptill (Celmson, S.C.) came in to relieve Phinny and ended the inning with a strikeout.

Zimolka added an RBI single in the fifth, but Salem State scored three more in the bottom of frame to take a 12-2 lead.  Shawn Rebello (Milford, Mass.) doubled to right and an error led to another run before Toomey notched his fifth RBI of the game with a single to left.

Nick Aslanian (Lynnfield, Mass.) relieved Kelleher in the seventh. Kelleher earned his first win, going six innings, giving up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

???????Aslanian, Steve Leavitt (Peabody, Mass.) and Brock Riley (Lowell, Mass.) each tossed a scoreless inning in relief to close out the game.

???????Cedano went 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored for the Vikings.  

MCLA's Adams, Quinones lead Softball past Lyndon State in Game One

Recap, photo courtesy of MCLA

North Adams, MA- Kara Adams tossed a complete game one hitter and Alanza Quinones drove in four runs to lead the MCLA Softball to a 14-0 five inning win in game one of a twinbill with Lyndon State at the Zavattaro Athletics Complex.  MCLA is now 3-12 on the season while the Hornets drop to 0-5.

Adams was efficient in the circle for MCLA as she allowed a hit in the first inning, but shut down the Hornets the rest of the way as she improved to 1-2 on the season.  She struck out a pair of Lyndon State batters on the afternoon.

The MCLA offense wasted little time in taking control as they scored five runs in each of the first two innings.  Senior Kaitlyn Berghela started things off with a triple and then scored on an overthrow for an early 1-0 lead.  Quinones then singled to left field scoring Adams and Kayla Baker for an early 3-0 lead.  Fran Belli would add her own two run single to give the Trailblazers a 5-0 lead after an inning of play.

In the second inning, Kaylyn Holliday ripped an RBI double to left field and Quinones followed with her own double making it 7-0.  A sacrifice fly from Ashley Wilson brought home another run and when Julia Parker singled home Wilson, it was 10-0 in favor of MCLA.

The Trailblazers would add a run in the third on Nevada Nelsen's RBI hit and then rounded out the scoring with three runs in the fourth highlighted by Adams' double and Quinones fourth RBI of the day.

Quinones went 2-4 with four RBI's to lead the offense.  Berghela and Baker had two hits.  Adams scored three runs for the Trailblazers as well.

Suffolk University Softball Routs Regis, 9-1, in Five Innings to Open Twinbill

Recap, photo courtesy of Suffolk University

EAST BOSTON – The Suffolk softball team scored early and often to run-rule Regis, 9-1, in five innings Wednesday afternoon at East Boston Memorial Park.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 9, Regis 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (13-6, 6-1 GNAC) | Regis (4-11, 0-7 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Regis broke opened the scoring in the top of the first, but the visitors lead was shortlived as the Rams responded in the home half of the inning. Suffolk got its offense going all with two down as Devlin Frost knocked a double to the center field fence. Jaclyn Flint kept the offense alive as she drew a base-on-balls, before Delaney Sylvester put the ball through the left side to tie the ball game. Flint and Sylvester each rounded the bags courtesy of Ashley Zulla's deep double to left field that gave the host 3-1 advantage.  

Taylor Holmes sat down the Pride in order in the top of the second before putting up five more runs in the bottom of the stanza. Back-to-back doubles from Payton Sylvester and Sydney Littlefield started the scoring with Littlefield using Flint's single to right field to cross home. With runners in the corners, Zulla sent a shot over the right field fence to make it an 8-1 Suffolk score.  

Suffolk's final run of the afternoon came off Flint's bat as the junior middle infielder barreled a solo shot over the left field fence for the 9-1 final.  

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Holmes earned the decision as Suffolk's starter allowed just one run on three hits with one strikeout through the first 3.0 innings. 
• Constance Phelan worked two scoreless innings of relief. The freshman arm gave up just one hit and sat down one batter. 
• Madi McLellan suffered the setback as she let up nine runs off 12 hits and one walk with five Ks to her credit.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Four different Rams had two-hit days paced by Zulla, who had a day. Zulla produced five RBI behind a 2-for-2 effort with one double and one dinger. 
• Flint also went yard as her 2-for-2 performance was good for a pair of RBI to go along with three runs scored.
• Delaney Sylvester notched two hits, brought one run and scored twice. 
• Kelly Keane rounded out the batters with two hits. 
• Littlefield collected one RBI and scored one run, while Payton crossed home once. The senior and freshman each had one hit apiece.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Regis renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since 1999, first-time under Jaclyn Davis and first time as GNAC foes. 
• The Rams won their second straight match-up versus the Pride to move to 4-10 all-time against Regis.
• Suffolk moved to 1-0 versus Regis in the Jaclyn Davis era.
• The Rams' Class of 2018 – Madison Eucalitto,Frost, Holmes, Littlefield, Delaney Sylvester and Ali Yamakaitis – won their 100th game in their collegiate career. They become the third-ever four-year class in Suffolk softball history to accomplish the feat. Overall, the six seniors have gone 100-54 (.649) on the diamond as Rams.  
• Suffolk opened GNAC play 6-1 for the first time since going 12-1 to open league play in 2015.
• Zulla registered a career-high five RBI.   

Panthers Outlast Vikings 12-8

Recap courtesy of Salem State

SALEM, MASS. –  Griffin Jacobson (Windham, Maine), Ryan Croatti (Brunswick, Maine) and Connor Delea (Manchester, N.H.) combined for six goals and three assists as Plymouth State held off Salem State 12-8 in a Little East Conference matchup on Friday evening at Alumni Field. The Panthers improve to 4-4 on the season and 2-0 in the Little East. The Vikings dip to 3-7 and 0-2 in conference.

Casey Elkins (Stow, Mass.), Drew Lederer (Jefferson, Mass.), Chris Waterbury (Clinton, Conn.), Thomas Kelly (Chantilly, Va.), Trevor Gagnon (Pelham, N.H.) and Trevor Barrett (Amherst, N.H.) all scored goal for Plymouth State.

Charlie Bourgeois (Billerica, Mass.) – 2 goals, Zach Persson (Danvers, Mass.) – 2 goals, Jay Colletti (Billerica, Mass.), Tyler Billouin (Bedfrod, Mass.), Craig Denehy (Salem, Mass.) and Jack Feeney (Abington, Mass.) notched scores for Salem State.

The Panthers held a 3-2 lead after one period of play. It was Salem State's Colletti, who struck first, notching his third goal of the season in the opening minute. Croatti, netted back-to-back scores for the Panthers, midway through the period before Billouin tied the game again at 2-2. However, Elkins snuck in a goal right before the buzzer, giving the visitors a one-score advantage.

Bourgeois answered for Salem State quickly to open the second. Though once again the Panthers aided by goals from Jacobson and Delea took a two-score lead, 5-3 with 11:46 remaining. Lederer then extended the lead to 6-3 with his fifth of the year for Plymouth State.  Following a timeout, Persson and Denehy netted goals less than two minutes apart to pull the Vikings to within a goal at 6-5. Bourgeois continued Salem State's run with his second of the game, tying the score with 4:16 left before halftime.

Waterbury broke the tie just seven seconds into the third period for the Panthers. Salem State's Persson followed with a wrap-around goal, tying the game once again at 7-7. Consecutive scores from Kelly and Gagnon gave the Panthers a two-goal lead before Feeney pulled the Vikings to within 9-8 with 4:09 left in the quarter. 

Jacobson made the score 10-8 with a man-up goal less than thirty seconds into the fourth.  Barrett added another score for Plymouth State with 7:45 left on the clock, giving the Panthers some breathing room as Plymouth State built an 11-8 lead. Delea capped the scoring with his second of the night as the Panthers took a 12-8 decision.

Kyle Stockman (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) won 17-22 faceoffs and while grabbing a game-high 10 groundballs.

Zel Kerkel (Loudon, N.H.) made two saves in the win. Chris Schaub (Brewster, N.Y.) stopped 16 shots as the Panthers outshot Salem State 44-25.

Curry College Softball Salvages Split With Endicott

Recap, photo courtesy of Curry College

MILTON, Mass. – The Curry College softball team split a doubleheader with Endicott College on Sunday afternoon, losing 7-1 in the opener before shutting out the Gulls for a 3-0 win in the nightcap.

The Colonels (4-14 overall) handed the Endicott (9-3 overall) their first loss of the spring thanks to big game from Michaela Colleran (East Bridgewater, Mass.), going 1-for-3 at the dish with two runs batted in and one run scored. Rebecca Black (East Greenwich, R.I.) did her part in the circle, tossing a complete game to earn her first win of the season. 

Game 1 – Endicott 7, Curry 1

An RBI double by Jamie Hopgood (Warwick, R.I.) gave the Gulls a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Adrianna Favereau (Tewksbury, Mass.) added to the lead when she reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed Hopgood to score.

The Colonels chipped away at the lead in the second, thanks to an RBI single from Kevi Oatway (East Hartford, Conn.). The base knock scored Jocelyn Dimond (Weare, N.H.) to make the score 2-1 after the first inning of play.

The next scoring came in the seventh inning, off a three-RBI Favreau homer to center field to push the lead to 5-1. Endicott tacked on two runs later on a Danielle Stratton (Agawam, Mass.) two-RBI single to left, which plated Lindsee Allienello (East Providence, R.I) and Hayley Arduini (Southington, Conn.)

The win was credited to Maggie Oram (Lexington, Mass.) in the circle as the sophomore tossed a complete game while giving up one run on three hits. She struck out ten and walked one. Mikayla Lambert (Blackstone, Mass.) picked up the loss, surrendering five runs on 12 hits while striking out six and walking three.

Game 2 – Curry 3, Endicott 0

The first runs of game two came by way of a one-run single by Dimond to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Colleran then homered to left field in the sixth with Jordan Perzan (Burlington, Conn.) on base to put the home squad up 3-0.   

Black had enough to hold off the Gulls late. She limited Endicott to two hits while fanning two and walking one. Michaela Hamill (Lynn, Mass.) was credited with the loss, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out eight and walking two.

Curry will next play on Tuesday at home against Newbury in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m. Endicott will return to the field Monday at Gordon in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Burnett, Anderson Spark Women's Lax 22-10 Win Over La Salle

Duo combines for nine goals; Holly Turner ties program's career assist record.

MHERST, Mass. - Paced by a combined nine goals from Kiley Anderson and Hannah Burnett, the UMass women's lacrosse team cruised past La Salle 22-10 on Sunday afternoon at Garber Field. Along with Anderson and Burnett's goal performances, Holly Turner tied the program's all-time career assist record (119, Katie Ferris) with five on the day.

The win improves the Minutewomen to 9-3 overall and 4-0 in league play. That extends UMass' NCAA record league win streak to 58 consecutive games and improves the current home win streak to 12 games.

Anderson finished the day with a game-high and career-best tying five goals followed by four from Burnett. Anderson also had an assist to tie Turner, who had a goal and five assists, for a game-best six points on the afternoon. Turner added a team-high and career-high three caused turnovers and eight groundballs as part of an aggressive transition defense by UMass that held La Salle (4-8, 0-4 A-10) to just 7-of-21 on clearing opportunities.

Cassidy Doster notched a pair of goals and three assists, while Bella O'Connor and Abby Walker each

Strong Offense Fuels Springfield College Softball to NEWMAC Doubleheader Sweep of Wheaton

Recap, photo courtesy of Springfield College

Norton, Mass. - April 7, 2018 - The Springfield College softball team returned to action on Saturday afternoon, as the Pride defeated Wheaton twice in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader at Clark Softball Field. The Pride defeated the Lyons, 16-1, in game one, before routing the hosts, 10-0, in game two, which was limited to five innings.

Leading the Pride on the day was junior Shelby Allen (Oakland, N.J.), as she went 5-for-9 at the plate with six RBI and two runs scored, while also picking up her sixth win of the season in game two. Carianna Gasdia (Wakefield, Mass.) and Kirsten Drobiak (Griswold, Conn.) each had six hits on the day, while Drobiak notched her conference-leading eighth home run of the season.

Springfield College's next scheduled game is on Friday, April 13 as the Pride will host two games with Clark on Potter Field beginning at 3 p.m. 

Springfield College 16, Wheaton (Mass.) 1 -- Game One

Senior Talia Loda (East Haven, Conn.) took the ball in game one and pitched a complete-game,

Babson Uses Fourth-Quarter Push to Rally Past Springfield College Men's Lacrosse, 11-8

Recap, photo courtesy of Springfield College

Babson Park, Mass. - April 7, 2018 - The Springfield College men's lacrosse team fell to Babson, 11-8, on Saturday afternoon at MacDowell Field, as the Pride surrendeder six unanswered goals in the final quarter to suffer its first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) loss of the season. Springfield College is now 6-4 overall with a 1-1 mark in league play, while Babson improves to 5-5 on the year with a 2-0 record against league opponents.

Babson scored six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to overcome a three-goal deficit and escape with the 11-8 victory. Babson outshot the Pride, 46-35 over 60 minutes of play and picked up 42 ground balls compared to Springfield's 34. In net, senior goalkeeper Jake Reynolds (Scituate, Mass.) made 10 saves, while his counterparts, Christopher Aranalde (Rockville Center, N.Y.) and Mac Mowat (Bellevue, Wash.) combined for 10 saves in the win.

Leading the Pride offensively was Matt Allen (Chevy Chase, Md.), who had three goals, while

Springfield College Baseball Completes NEWMAC West Division Sweep of Coast Guard with 11-0 Victory

Recap, photo courtesy of Springfield College

New London, Conn. - April 8, 2018 - Wrapping up a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) West Division series on Sunday afternoon, the Springfield College baseball team shut out Coast Guard en route to an 11-0 victory over the Bears on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the Pride is now 17-5-2 overall with a 6-2 mark in NEWMAC play, while Coast Guard is now 6-11 on the year with a 0-8 record against league opponents. The Pride's 17 wins marks the most amount of wins out of the Springfield College baseball team since the 2014 season when it notched 21 victories.

Sophomore Shawn Babineau (Ashland, Mass.) had another strong outing for the Pride as he pitched

Brandeis University Baseball swept by #13 Case Western Reserve, 8-3 and 14-8

Brian Shaw '20 (Photo by Sportspix / Jan Volk)

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University baseball team dropped a pair of University Athletic Association contests today ((Sunday) against 13^th-ranked Case Western Reserve University, 8-3 in the opener and 14-8 in the second game. The Judges fall to 2-13, 0-4 in the UAA, while the Spartans improve to 20-3, 7-1 UAA.

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 1 (Case 8-3)

• The Spartans jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings in the opener. Jacob Pestel and Jacob Kucia each had sacrifice flies in that span, while Noah Mehrle had an RBI double.
• The Judges broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth on a Dan Frey (Ipswich, Mass./St. Johns Prep) sac fly.
• An errant pickoff attempt with the bases loaded allowed Donnie Weisse (Swampscott, Mass./St. Marys) to score from third on an error, making it 5-2 in the sixth.
• The Spartans'  next two runs came on steals of me. Jacob Lott stole home on his own in the eighth, then was on the back end of a double steal in the ninth that saw Kucia swipe the plate. Lott scored on a Samuel Neal single in the ninth to make it 8-2.
• Brandeis loaded the bases with one out against Spartan closer Liam Killingstad in the ninth on two singles and an error. Killingstad got a called third strike for the second out, but Brandeis's  Scott Ziegler (Avon, Conn./Avon Old Farms) drew a walk to drive in a run. Killingstad ended the game with a comebacker to the mound.
• Brandeis sophomore Albert Gutierrez (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit Prep) had a fine start in the losing effort, going seven innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits. He walked four but did not strike out a batter as he fell to 0-3.
• Ben Murphy went 7.2 innings and allowed just four hits and two runs (one earned). He fanned five and did not walk anyone, improving to 4-1. Killingstad gave up two hits and one unearned run in 1.1 innings to earn his seventh save.
• Weiss went 2-5 with a double and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot and was Brandeis's only multiple hitter.
• Mehrle (2-5, RBI, R, 2B) and Tyler Wypiszenski (2-4, R, 2 SB) were the Spartans multiple hitters. Lott went 1-4 with a walk and two stolen bases.

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 2 (Case, 14-8)

• The Spartans again got off to a hot start, as they led 10-1 after four-and-a-half innings. Brandeis battled back with a run in the fifth and six more in the sixth to get within 10-8, but CWRU did not let up, scoring four times in the final three innings to reach the final score.
• After doing it with his legs in the opener, Lott was big with his bat in the second game, hitting home runs in the fifth – a three-run shot – and the ninth – a solo job. He also had an RBI double to finish the game 3-4 with five RBI, three runs scored and 10 total bases.
• The Spartans finished with 19 hits, paced by Alex Captillo's 5-6 performance out of the three-spot. He drove in two and scored once.
• Seven different players accounted for Brandeis's nine hits, with Dan O'Leary (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) and catcher Brian Shaw (Conway, Mass./Northfield  Mount Hermon) each getting two.
• O'Leary drove in a run in the fourth, Brandeis's first of the game, while Shaw had a two-run double as part of Brandeis's six-run sixth inning. The Judges sent nine men to the plate and also had an RBI two-bagger from Isaac Fossas (Dudley, Mass./Milton Academy).
• Brandeis senior Bradley Bousquet (Athol, Mass./Athol) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1, giving up four runs on eight hits – several of which were softly-hit balls that found spaces in the outfield. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.
• Sophomore Brandon Musto (Milton, Mass./Milton) had the Judges' longest outing, going 3.1 and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk while fanning two.
• Matt Levine improve to 4-0 for CWRU after going five innings and giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits. He walked one and struck out two.
• Corey Brown earned a save with four innings of strong relief, giving up two runs on just two hits. He walked two and struck out five, including the side in the seventh.

UP NEXT

• Brandeis takes on UMass Boston on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. before heading to Atlanta for a UAA road trip to Emory starting on Friday.